Following the suspension of over three months industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the subsequent decisions of the OOU Management that students should resume on Monday, 11th February, 2019. Academic activities have since started in all the campuses of the University.
Monitoring the compliance level during his visit to the Remo Campus on February 14th where we have the Clinical, Basic Medical and Pharmacy Programmes, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde stated that he was happy that lectures were going on in many of the departments of the Faculties and the turn out of staff was impressive. He also noted that the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences was holding its Faculty Board meeting. However, the students’ attendance was not as impressive as that of the staff. Over all, the Vice-Chancellor said that the compliance level was satisfactory.
It was the same story at the Yewa Campus of the University which houses the Faculties of Agricultural Economics & Farm Management and Agricultural Production & Renewable Resources. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor (Mrs.) Ebun Oduwole and the Bursar were also there to monitor the compliance level.
According to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), the staff attendance was highly impressive. Lectures were on going in various classes and halls. She stated that she was privileged to attend the College Board Meeting which was presided by the Provost, Professor J.O.Y. Aihonsu with almost 97% staff attendance. She revealed that issues such as students/staff welfare, early grading of scripts, sexual harassment, and missing scores/scripts were exhaustively discussed at the meeting. Asked to rate the compliance level of attendance and academic activities she met on ground, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) described it as “very satisfactory”
Similarly, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Deji Agboola and the Registrar, Mr. Femi Ogunwomoju were at Ibogun Campus which has the Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Environmental Studies.
On his impression about the on-the-spot assessment visit, Professor Agboola said that he was impressed with the level of attendance by the staff. He noted that the Faculty of Engineering held its Board Meeting and the attendance at the meeting was encouraging.
The Registrar corroborated this information but observed that unlike the staff’s attendance that was encourgaging that of the students was low. He added that despite the fact that lectures had commenced some few days ago, the majority of the students were yet to be on ground.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar later held a meeting with the staff where their welfare issues such as accommodation, electricity and staffing were discussed. However, they were advised to look inwards by bringing up workable proposals on how the College could make use of solar energy to solve its electricity problem and the Department of Fine and Applied Arts was challenged to serve as a revenue generating unit for the College in the areas of block making and painting. The two Principal Officers promised that the University would give the College the necessary support.
At the Main Campus, the University Librarian, Dr. Adebambo Oduwole was on ground to monitor the activities of staff and students. According to him, he was satisfied with the high turn out of staff on the campus. He noted that in many of the departments, lectures were held but the students’ attendance was not as high as expected. He stated that many of the lecturers were at their desks and some practicals were held at the Faculty of Science. Overall, he rated the compliance level in terms of academic activities taking place as very satisfactory.
